Following the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop model, students in Grade 2 will participate in mini-lessons, group work, and one-on-one conferencing. In Reader’s Workshop, students will explore different genres of literature. Students will learn various comprehension strategies, word decoding strategies, vocabulary, fluency, and author’s craft. In Writer’s Workshop, students will write clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Their writing shows they consider the audience and purpose and should progress through the stages of the writing process. Students will complete narrative, procedural, research reports, and letter writing assignments, while demonstrating a command of standard English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies used at the appropriate grade-level. Appropriate word study activities are provided daily to engage students in productive word study using Words Their Way sorting methods. These word study methods are designed to explore the intricacies of language and to investigate the meaning and structure of words, as well as the conventions and forms of the written language.

In grade two, students will comprehend the concepts of place value and number relationships in addition and subtraction as well as simple concepts of multiplication. They will also measure quantities of various substances and objects with appropriate units. Grade two students will classify shapes and see relationships among them, by paying attention to their geometric attributes. Students will also collect and analyze data and verify the answers using graphs and simple problem solving strategies.

In grade two students are introduced to the diversity and interdependence of living things in ecosystems. They dive deep into different habitats through research projects. Students compare the properties and functions of different kinds of matter through scientific experiments. Students will analyze the processes that shape Earth over long and short periods of time. Students will understand that the earth is made of materials that have distinct properties and provide resources for human activities. Additionally, students study the basics of Earth’s formation, climate and natural disasters. Students will understand that the scientific process is made by asking meaningful questions and by conducting careful investigations.

Students in grade two explore the basics of geography, economics, and citizenship in the context of learning about their local community. They will differentiate between things that happened long ago and things that happened yesterday. They will learn the stories of extraordinary people from history whose achievements have touched them, directly and indirectly. Additionally, students will demonstrate map skills by describing the absolute and relative locations of people, places, and environments such as governmental institutions and practices in the United States and other countries.

The Lower School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.

Second grade students continue all previously introduced activities including basic rhythmic elements, games, folk songs, music hand symbols, and simple musical forms. New concepts will include rhythmic elements (tika tika, half note, ties, whole note), music hand symbols (do,re), and simple musical forms (2 and 4 meter, 1st & 2nd Ending Repeats).

In Grade 2, the children will be presented the following topics; Love for God, God made all people and all things; we are all precious to him; Gods love helps all people to grow in love for him and with one another, the love of God through His Son, Jesus. The second quarter of Religious Studies is mostly devoted for the nativity play practices for the class Christmas presentation. The topics enumerated will be taught through little stories, bible reading, song plays, poems, and show and tell activities will be conducted during religion classes.

Second-grade students read increasingly complex material and a wide representation of grade-level-appropriate text. Second-grade students become familiar with types of everyday print and non-print materials. Students can identify parts of a book. Second-grade students recognize the need for information. In second grade, students perform simple keyword searches using a search engine or database. Second-grade students are familiar with the procedures for borrowing materials from the school library and caring for library resources. Students locate fiction and nonfiction materials in the library. In second grade, students draw meaning from illustrations, photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, maps, and captions. Students begin to recognize how media affects the telling of a story and transmission of information.